We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Smithy Surgery on 24 January 2019 as part of our inspection programme.

We based our judgement of the quality of care at this service on a combination of:

• what we found when we inspected
• information from our ongoing monitoring of data about services and
• information from the provider, patients, the public and other organisations.

We have rated this practice as good overall and good for all population groups.

We found that:

• The practice provided care in a way that kept patients safe and protected them from avoidable harm.
• Patients received effective care and treatment that met their needs.
• Staff dealt with patients with kindness and respect and involved them in decisions about their care.
• The practice organised and delivered services to meet patients’ needs. Patients could access care and treatment in a timely way.
• The way the practice was led and managed promoted the delivery of high-quality, person-centre care.

Details of our findings and the evidence supporting our ratings are set out in the evidence tables.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Smithy Surgery on 09 December 2015. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

• Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns and to report incidents and near misses. Information about safety was recorded, monitored, appropriately reviewed and addressed.
• Risks to patients were assessed and well managed, including those relating to recruitment checks.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance. Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and any further training needs had been identified and planned.

• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.

• Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and that there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.

• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

• Ensure when carrying out audits they complete a full audit cycle.

• Ensure clinical protocols are in place.

• Ensure an appraisal plan is fully implemented.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

The Smithy Surgery offers a range of services for its patient population. This includes routine prebookable appointments with General Practitioners (GPs), practice nurses and the health care assistant. They also allocate emergency GP appointments on the day, undertake home visits when necessary and there is an out of hours service available and is provided by Go to Doc.

During our visit we spoke with General Practitioners (GPs), the Practice Manager, the Practice Nurse, administration staff and six patients. We also spoke with members of the patient participation group (PPG).

We spoke with six patients who were very complimentary about the service they received. We also reviewed the results of patient questionnaires which were very positive about the practice.

Clinical decisions followed best practice guidelines.

The leadership team are approachable and visible. There are appropriate governance and risk management measures in place.

The practice is registered with the Care Quality Commission to deliver care under the following regulated activities: Diagnostic and screening procedures, family planning, maternity and midwifery services, surgical procedures and treatment of disease and disorder.